The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-12-01
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.


Nine new comets were observed
during the year 1886.
Two hundred and fifty-five meteor
illogical stations are now maintained in
Russia, exclusive of the large observa-
tories.
An Australian mineral called
maldonite has been found to consist of
an alloy of gold and bismuth, contain
ing sixty-four per cent. of the former
metal.
The English co-operatives have a
bank whose transactions amount to
SS0,00O,00 a year. Their 900, 900 MEM
bers receive all annual profit of $l5,-
100000. Their profits during the past
twenty-four years have been $50, ,000,-
O00.- Washington Craftsman.
According to geological computa-
tions the minimum age of the earth
since the formations of the primitive
soils is p, 900, 900 years-6, 700, 900 years
for the primordial formations, 6, 100000
years for the primary age, 100000
years for the secondary age, and 460,-
600 years for the tertiary age, aud 1O0,-
600 since the appearance of man upon
the globe.
The JeUelers' Journal says: There
has never been time in the history of
the American watch trade when the
business was of such vast proportions
as now. All the larger factories that
have run all summer, as well as those
that shut down for short interval, are
behind orders at the present time, with
the prospect of the largest holiday de-
mand ever known before them"
The manufacture of corsets is
becoming a most important industry
in Wurtemberg, about 10000 people
being now engaged in the trade. Large
quantities of woven corsets are exported
to Brazil, La Plata, England and the
Uuited States. The amount sent to the
last named country is, however. less
now than previously, as the United
States have also begun to manufacture
this article.
The British Iron Trade Association
has issued its half-yearly statistics of
the production and stocks of pig iron,
and the production of Bessemer steel
ingots and rails. AS compared with
the corresponding six months of 1886,
the make of steel ingots shows an in
crease Of 202,217, and the make of
steel rails an increase of 1886 tons.
The production of pig iron increased
131, ,341 tons. The increase of stocks of
pig iron as compared with the same
period has been 73, 165 tons.-Pu6lic
Opinion.
1t seems that dynamite which has
been exploded in blasting out rocks
sometimes leaves an explosive residue
which renders it dangerous to break up
the smaller masses with the sledge-
hammer. In Brazil, where this residue
has caused several serious explosions
in mines, it is supposed that nitro-gly-
cerine exudes from the dynamite before
or at the time it is fired. and remains at
the bottom. of the drill-hole, unexploded.
until struck by the sledge-hammer
rock. Whatever the true explanation
may be, the subject is well worthy of
investigation by the man ufacturers of
dynamite.-M 7. Ledger,
The discovery of new gas is a
rare and important event TO chemists.
Such a discovery has been announced
in Germany by Dr.. Theodore Curtius,
who has succeeded in preparing the
long-sought hydride of nitrogen ami
dogen, diamide or hydrazine. as it is
variously called. This remarkable
body, which has hitherto baffied all at
tempts at isolation. is now shown to be
a gas, perfectly stable up to very high
temperature, of peculiar odor. differ
ing from that of ammonia, exceedingly
soluble in water. and of basic proper
ties. In composition it is nearly iden-
tical with ammonia, both being COM
pounds of nitrogen and hydrogen.
Boston Budget.